# Regulation of cellular plasticity and regeneration in Drosophila spermatogenesis

> **NIH NIH R35** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $351,585

## Abstract

Abstract
Many adult tissues replace cells lost due to normal wear and tear through the activity of stem
cells, but can use entirely different strategies when injury occurs. The ability to understand and
control regeneration, or the regrowth of lost tissues or organs in response to injury, is a long-
standing goal in biology. Cells with the capacity to adopt the biological properties of other cell
types under specific conditions, or cellular plasticity, are key contributors to regeneration. Stem
cells and even differentiated cells can have surprising degrees of plasticity, allowing them to
adopt new fates and rebuild damaged tissues. This happens in response to altered
microenvironments that arise upon injury, but the mechanisms that regulate plasticity are poorly
understood. We have developed the Drosophila testis as a model system to study the biology
of stem cells and their microenvironments, or niches. Advantages include the relative simplicity
of this tissue and an unparalleled collection of genetic tools to probe it functionally. Previously,
we showed that damaging the Drosophila testis converts differentiating germ cells to revert to
germline stem cells to repair the tissue. We recently found that quiescent somatic niche cells
can transdifferentiate into new somatic stem cells upon damage. Here we combine live
imaging, lineage tracing and single cell transcriptomic profiling to determine now niches sense
damage and then activate program(s) to regenerate missing stem cells. We will also uncover
the overall complexity of the genetic pathways enriched in the testis niche during normal tissue
turnover, following up on candidate signals that relay information from stem cells to their niche.
Our synergistic approach will enhance the understanding of the fundamental cellular and
molecular mechanisms driving homeostasis and regeneration in the testis, which has important
implications for understanding fertility, regeneration and cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9939008
- **Project number:** 1R35GM136665-01
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Erika L Matunis
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $351,585
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9939008

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9939008, Regulation of cellular plasticity and regeneration in Drosophila spermatogenesis (1R35GM136665-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9939008. Licensed CC0.

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